Awesome of the Day: State Radio's Oil-Can Guitar

On stage at any State Radio show, tucked among much more conventional instruments is something a little more, er, handmade. A friend of the Boston trio’s guitarist Chad Stokes bought him back an oil-can guitar, purchased on the streets of Capetown, South Africa. Made from a Castrol oil can, bottle tops, plastic and salvaged copper, the unusual six-string has become one of Stokes’ go-to guitars.

“It’s made from recycled material and demonstrates how people can make beautiful things with trash,” Stokes says. “It sounds like a homemade banjo but plugged in through the right amp it can snarl better than any guitar I’ve ever played. Been thinkin’ about dropping a match inside it!”

Oil-can guitars, also called African-can guitars or ramkiekies, have long been an alternative to store-bought guitars in South Africa and were the first guitars of many South African musicians.

Stokes’ guitar was stolen at a bar in Boulder, Colo., but the bartender recognized the thief on video camera, and the treasure was returned. “It’s now rusty from sweat and blood and the paint is slowly wearing off,” he says, “but it’s become a true friend and always goes with me where ever we go.”

Nicknamed “Fidel Castrol,” the guitar appears on State Radio’s latest album, Let It Go, on the songs “Calling All Crows” and “Bohemian Grove.” You can download the Calling All Crows mp3 for free, and hear the oil-can guitar. And here are directions to make an oil-can guitar for yourself.